Sensitivity to an Acute Gamma Radiation Exposure of Successively Irradiated Generations of the Cowpea Weevil13

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Abstract
Five populations of Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) were treated, respectively, with 0 (control), 0.5, 1, 2, or 4 krad of gamma radiation for 7 successive generations. Groups of 7th-generation adults were tested for resistance to acute irradiation by exposure to total doses of 16 and 50 krad. Unirradiated 8th-generation adults from each population were checked for mating success and fecundity. When longevity was checked after acute radiation exposures, no evidence of increased resistance to acute radiation exposures was found. Irradiated populations showed slight but not significant decreases in mean survival time. A reduction in fecundity in the irradiated populations indicated also a decrease in population fitness. Therefore, the possibility of development of radiation-resistant insect strains by accidental exposure of some insects to substerilizing dosages during commercial radiation disinfestation does not appear to be a problem.

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